Macular reflectoscope



Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,661

C. E. H. ARMBRUSTER MACULAR REFLECTOSCOPE Filed May 24, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

Dec. 6, 1927. I 1',G5l,661 c. E. H. ARMBRUSTER MACULAR REFLECTOSCOPEFiled Ma' 24, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 67 /3 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 6, 1927. 1

' 'or nnmisn. H. emanmismnmor nmwnmoonormno: 3

'MAGiILAm nnriinc'roscorn. i I

Application.filed lfiay fi, 1926. ScriaLNQ: 111,257. i

This invention relates to anoptometeremploying mirrors for reflecting animage/of by refractionists in measuring; the refrac- 5 tions of theeye,.b.y. the useof a. retinoscope,

for prescribing; lenses. therefor. It is: more,

I particularly applicable. to. refleetoseopes. of I the olass;illustrated and described. in: my United? States .Letters Patent, No...1,190,619,

issued July 11', 1916, and Letters PatentNoI 1,469 ,111, issued October2,1923..- r Theprincipal'. objectof. this invention is to incorporatethe features of the abovenoted patents, *andf improvements thereon, in.a single eflioientunit. v

' Another object ofifthe invention is:to provide a series o-fadjustingmeohanisms lo'y means. of which, any desired. adjustment. can beobtained andin-whieh all theneeessary controls are ithinoonvenientreachof the operator:

' further object of the invention to provide novelmeans .for. restingthe ohinand fiorehea'd of. thepatientiwhieh can be readily adjusted tosuit/the requirements: of; Various patients. r

A still further object is-to provide means for efieetively' supportingand adjusting the upper mirror upon the same frame which supports-thelower mirror. we

j a Other objects andadvantages reside ini the detail; construction of.the invention; which designed for simplicity, economy, .andeflieieneyiThese will becomemoreapparent fromthe-followingdescription. I

In the followingjdetailed description. of therinvention, referenceiishad'tothe accompanyingdrawings, Whiclrforma part hereof; I Likenumeralsrefer: to like. parts inv all views of: the drawings. and throughout".the description.

In thedraWin-gs: I 4 v j r Fig. 1: is a side elevationof my improvedreflectoscope. In this viewthe relativepo- 4 SltlOIlSaOf thepatientandoperator are-illus frames. 18. carrying a series of lens: framesTing. Bracket 1 21 .Which; in. turn is pivotedl at trated in hrokenline'and the lines of vision 7 V of the bracket 2?. about: the column 128rwhile I detail View ofl'the! clamping hingeemployed'onthelowerlmirror; thefixation object and adapted to be. used 1,arm- 13j'earrying.a relatively narrow lower i orfixation imagefmirror:14L; Thefppposite extremity. ofthe. frame 19j projects side- ;Wardly, asshown at 15, Fig. 6',.and,sup;

upper 'mirror' 17 1 ports a mirror post. 16, which. carries. an

. Mounted substantially. atthe mid -portion v it off the frame; 10' is.one. at the usual trial 19; for, placement. before theeyesv of the pa-'tientiandinwhich the trial lenses areplaced,

asiis...usual in the art.

' The.frame-lOispivoted a't 20 to ag-snpp ortin a' sleeve23 andlockedagainst rota.- t onby means of. asetserew 24;;Q'Ihe sleeve H 23: isclamped. tothe extremity .ofthezsupportingarm QS' which. in. turnisaclamped,

by. means of a' clamp. screw26,to a supporting arm bracket 27; Thesupporting. arm

braeketQTisVertically slidalole. uponaicolf umn. 2 83 which is: mountedl in; a. Icarri agee- 29 -The..carriage 29 rides between parallel tracks30 carried on a ha'sel'framea31,andis providedwith proj eating, feetfihavingr suitable 'groovesion engagement with thetraeks 30. N0 clampingmeans are net zessanyv to-seoure thercarriage 291170 the base, frame.31, the

weight: of: the device being. sufifoient tomain tain it inany,desiredipositionon the tracks.

The base. frame 31v may be rotated. on a shaft 32, supported inhai base33,- to project army: desired angle'aand is locked -inthe desired:position by meanszofs clampi screws 35.

'Thebase 33 is attached-to the wan. of. the room. or any suitable,supporting structure. by

means ofsnitable screws 34.

Thesupportmg arm shoe 37 which is forcedv into avgroove 38,

formecliin' the column 28,. by means of. a

spring-.39, whenthe deiriceis' inthe operatiize Q position.lhiseiiectively prevents. notation jumn12 8,'a.lever itl iszdepressedasindioated Y I v '1,651;6e1" uN-i'ren ear-ear o rs-ice.

braeketflfcarriesa a 10 in broken line inlFig. 9. The lever 40operates'between ears 102 on the bracket 27 and loosely engages a stem41 upon the shoe 37. When depressed, it acts'against a :col-' lar 42 onthe stem 41 to withdraw the shoe from the groove 38. i Y

The pressure of the shoe 37 against the column 28 assists in maintainingthe supporting armv bracket at any desired elevation on the column 28.'To support the bracket when the shoe 37 is out of engagement and toassist'it at all times in supportii'igthe bracket, 'a carrying sleeve 43is mounted above the supporting arm bracket 27. The carrying sleevesupports the bracket by ,means-of a groove 44 in which tongues 45 on thebracket engage. This: arrangement i groove 38 and is maintained at anydesired,

allows'the bracket 27 to be freely rotated on' the carrying sleeve 43without becoming separated therefrom. 'The carrying sleeve is preventedfromrotation by means'of a set screw 46 whichfslidablyengages in theposition onthe column 28 by means ofa second shoe 47. The shoe 47 isclamped against the column by means of a spring therewith- 48,.the'compression of whichmay be adjusted by a cap nut'49. 'Theitension ofthe spring 48 should be just sufficient to support the device upon thecolumn, but sufficiently free to allow the bracket 27 and carryingsleeve 43 to be moved lver'tically'of the column when the shoe 37 isoutof engagement Inoperation, the operator engages a finger hold 50with'his forefinger and thelever 40'with'h'is thumb, gripping the column28 with his remaining fingers. In this position, ready verticaladjustment may be made of the entire device upon the column 28.

Thevertical angle of the trial'frame 118' v z 7 and upper mirror post.16. may be adjusted by means ofadjustihg screw 51 which'con tacts withthe frame 10 above'the'piv'ot 20. Below 'the'pivot' 20, the frame 10 isprovided withalug 52 against which a plunger 53 contacts. 'The plunger53 .is actuated by means of a spring carried in a spring cup 54 so as toconstantly tend to swing'the trial frame to the right,the swing beinglimited by the adjusting screw 51. h 1

'A method of attaching the mirror post 16 is illustrated in detail inFig. The'extremity of theframe "10 is dove-tailed. as shown at 55, andengaged by a dove-tailed bracket 56 through which the post 16 passes.

A clamp screw '57 passes' through the bracket 56 into contact with theframe 10, and is threaded'intoa loose block58 within the post 16. Theopenings for the passage of the screw 99. through the post 16 aresufliciently largeto allow a limited rotation of the post within thebracket 56, thepo'st be- Ting rotated by means of a lever57. "Thebracket 56' can be placed in any position 59 a frame 60is pivoted at61.- in which the mirror 17 rests. Upon theother extremity along thedove-tailed extremityfof the; frame 10 and,'when in the properhorizontal and angular position, is clamped in place by .tightening thescrew99. Tightening of this screw causes the block 58 to be drawnagainst one side of the interior of the post 16 and forces the extremityof the screw against theframe' 10. By this arrangement,

a single screw is made to lock the, post against both rotative-andhorizontal movemen's. I A, 7

Upon the'upper extremity of the post 16 a horizontal U-shaped leafspring59 is secured. Upon one extremity of'the spring ofthe spring 59, asocket 62 carriesanad: justing screw 63 which contacts "with the frame60 so as to rotate the latter upon its pivots. The horizontal angle ofthe mirror 17 is adjusted by'expanding or contracting the spring59 bymeans of a secon'd'adjustinglscrfew' 64, which is threadedinto thespring 59 at 65 and contacts with the upper cup 67 is clamped to the arm11 :and'receives a tapered hub 68 on the-arni13 when the two arms are intheir achacent position.

ed, 'draw it toward the arm' 11. A :clutch v Wh-en the arm 13 is turnedto the broken line position of Fig. 1, it will move outwardly andcontact with'a head 69' on" the pivot 12, wh-ichserves asfa stop tolimit the downward-movement. When the arm 13 is turned upwardly tothesolid line position of Fig. 1, the hub 68 will vbe wedged into theclutch cup 67' which serves as a stop to limit upward movement and alsoexerts a clamping action on the hub which rigidly supportsthe arm 13 inits operable position.

' The mirror 14 is supported on ashaft 7O which passes through ears 71on the rear of the mirror. The mirroris clamped at'any desired angle onthearm 13 by means of a clamp nut 72., Upon the shaft 70. twoslidingspring sleeves 73 are carri-etheach of which carry,arotatably-mounted vision finder 74, the action of which will be laterdescribed.- I g The device is provided with a chin rest This chinrest isvertically Slidable upon'the extremity of'achin rest frame 76 which maybe movedhoriz'ontally upon'screws 77., The screws 77 are threadedinto aplate 103' which is attached to the frame 10, and loosely contact withand ride in a longitudinal groove 75 for the support of the head of thepatient.

78- in-theframe 76." Extendingfroin the'chin rest'T5 are; twopara-llelsupporting bars 79 and 80: The upperbar 79*terminates in:a

' pivot'atweachextremity. The lower: bar 80 the chin rest frame-76 Bythis arrangementyrotation of the adjusting 'wheel will is pivoted at thechin rest extremity and termihatesat the other extremity" in alever 81.

The-lever 811terminates-ina ca1n follower 82 which rides in a a camtrack 83 formed in the rear face of an adjustingwheel'8l; The

wheel 842is journaled on 'one'extremity of move the 'camiollowerto or:from thewheel axis, -tl iereloy rotating the lever8l aboutits pivotandraisingor' lowering the chin rest Fas:desire d-. u 1 f I The deviceisjalso provided with a forehead rest'85 'pivot'edfat 86 to 'aforehead'rest frame-ea: Theforehead rest is provided with anadjusting-handle 88 to-fao'ilitate its placement to the angle of thepatientsfore? head The-irame 87 is slidab-ly mounted between angularlyturned extremities one frame support-'89, whichzis rigidly-secured v to'a; supporting arm 90' projecting from the trial frame 18. Thefi'arne87"ma-y'be moved horizontally. by means of an adj usting screw 91*whiehis -threaded intoa; collar 9-2 carried by-the frame 87' and into a lug93 carried byZtli'e-support 89.; The thr'eadsonthe adjustin'g'screw 91'areinj differentdirections in the collar 92 and-lug;93',' so thatrotation of the screw" will move -both it and I thev collar 92' in thesame direction, This arrangement amultiplication of movements so that aminimum movement of the adjusting screw will give a maximum movement ofthe forehead re st.' The pivot 86 is-provided with a spring-washer 94to'maintain it'in any desired; position. 1 V 1 The operation'of thereflectoscope will' now he desoribed'l'. The entire deviceis" swung beproper horizontal position beforethe eyes. The chinrest-75isadjustedihorizontally and vertically bymeans 'offthe wheel 84 untilthe patient s' 'eyes arec'entered immediately behind thetrial'frames'l9i, and the adjusting screw 91 and handle- 88, areadjusted until thef'forehead? rest forces the patient the'properdistancefrom the trial framesl The patientis now: directed toloolr at a v charactenon a trial card positioned at the 'r'ea-r'of theoperatorin the direction i'ndi cated by the arrow 95. The operator nowadjusts theiscrew' 63jso as to swing the upper mirrorlTt'o bringthe'imag'e o f'the character adjacent, the upper, edge of the mirror14.v

It'should benoted here that the thread on I claim of the operator sothat W-henjthe patient' "the screw 63 isleft hand-for the conveniencetells him theimage-is too low; by turningthe screw inthenaturalrighthand direction, he a V will raise it; Whenthe image has beenbrought tothe upperedge of the mirror 14,

one of the patients eyes isobscured and the finder 74' immediately infront of that veye I i,

is turned over the upper-edge offthe mirror 14, as-indioatedat A,Fignliandits sleeve 73 is slidalong the sha'ft 70 until .the patientstates that the image is covered by the finder. This operation isnowrepeated with the-other eye and the otheri finder and the findersarethen turnedback to the position B,"Fig. 4, where they will" serveassightsto enable the operator to align hisline of vision exactly withthe line ot-visionof thepatient. Each of the finders "74 is providedwitha white: band 96 WhlCh lS clearly visible to the operator in thesemi-darkness so that no lines of the patient. The operator, now pro:-

ceeds with 'the r-eiracting' examination by means of a retinoscope,indicated'in'broken line at97', Fig. 1.

It is well fknown in=the art thatzanylmater l I 1gle-' between theoperators' line of V-lSlOn and the patients'lineof vision will result inan error in the desired correction and it is desired to call'attentiontothe factfthat variation in horizontal 1' angle between the two" linesof vision since the-operator looks H immediatelyover the lineot visionof the patient. There i's but negligible l'-verti'cal .diflicultyisexperiencediin finding the'vision I in the use of this IQfiGOtOSCOPEQthere is no angular difference since the patient is look- 'i'ng into theupper part of the mirror 14- at the image of'theifixationletter andthe'open" ator is looking-immediately theteover, in-thepositionsformerly occupied by the finders 4.

VVhileaspecific'forni of the improvement has been described andillustratedherein; it

-isdesired to be understood thatthe same may'be varied, within the scopeof'the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I

Having thus-described main frame; mirrors supported by said main frame;a trial frame carriedfby said main I frame, said trial frame having itsvisual'a'Xis substantially 1n alignment with the lower one of. saidmirrorsand-below the upper; one

of said mirrors; a pivot forsjaid latter mirror and means f'or'varylnglts angular-placement saidmea'ns comprising a screw supported bysaidf'in'ain frame and; acting against saidupper-mirror to rotate thelatter upon its pivot;

'2. A macular reflectoscope comprisingamam frame; HHIIOIS supported bysaid main. frameyatrlal frame carried by sa1d ma1n thejinventio n', whatand desire secured' by Letters Pat- 1. ALmacularreflectoscope comprisinga,

ably supported by said main frame and actmg against said upper mirror torotate the latter in a plane parallel to the line of vision bracket andadapted to support said mirror;

and a second screw" adapted, to. move said mlrror in an aresubstantially at rightangles to the line of vision.

In a reflectoscope having afmirror adapted to reflect rays from a testcharacter into the eycsof a patient; means for adjustlng the angle ofsaid mirror, said means comprising a support; a horizontally placed,.

U-shapedspring; one leg of said spring be ing attached to said support;hinges for said mirror carried by the other leg of said spring; and'anadjusting screwiadapted to contact wit-h one leg of said spring so as toclose or spread said U. I

' 4. In a reflectoscope having a mirror adapted to reflect rays from atest character into the eyes of a patient; means for adjusting the angleof said mirror, said means comprising a support; hinges supported bysaid support; a mirror frame carried by 7 said hinges and supportingsaid mirror; and an adjusting screw carried by said support and adaptedto contact with said mirror frame soas to rotate the. latter on itshinges.

.5. In a reflectoscope having a mirror adapted toreflect rays from atest character; a second mirror which reflects said rays into the eyesof a patient; a main frame;- a bracket slidably mounted on said mainframe; a column carriedby said bracket and adapted to support saidsecondmirror above said first mirror; and means for locking said column,bracket and frame in any desired relation to each other.

6.; In a reflectoscope having a mirror adapted to reflect rays from atest character intothe eyes of a patient; a main frame; a bracketslidably mounted on said main frame; a hollow column carried by said andmeans for locking said column, bracket and frame in any desired'relationto each other, said means comprising a block'arranged on the interior ofsaid column; a clamp screw threaded into said block and arranged to passthrough said column and said bracket and contact with said main frame.

'7. In :an optometenmeans for supporting the chin of a patientcomprising a support; a member horizontally movable on said support; achin rest vertically movable on one extremity of said member; and meansfor maintaining said chin rest at any desired vertical position, saidmeans comprisingsub- ,stantially parallel arms pivoted to said chinrestat theirone extremity and to said member attheir other extremity -acam carried by said member and adapted to engage one of said arms so'asto cause itto raise orlower said chin rest and maintain it in anydesired position. i a

8. In an optometer, means for supporting,

the chin of a. patient comprising a support; a member horizontallymovable on said support; a chin restvertically movable on said member;and means "for. maintaining said chin rest at any desired verticalposition,

said means comprising a rotatablecam car.- ried by said member andoperatively con nected to raise orlower said ohinrest. p

'9. In an optometer, means for. resting the forehead of apatient'comprising a support a frame member carried by saidsupport; a

means comprising a compound screw having portions threaded in oppositedirections, one of said portions engag ng said frame member and theother of said portions operatively connected to said carriage.

10. Ina reflectosoope having fixation ob ect mirror; means. formalnt'aning said mirror in either the operative or inoperative positions, saidmeans comprising a support; a pivot 'pincarried by said support; a hingearm carrying said mirror and threaded on said pivot pin so that angularmovement of the hinge arm will cause horizontal movement'thereof along.said pivot pin; and means for limiting said horizontal movement,

11. In a reflectoscope having a fixation object mirror; means formaintainingsaid mirror in either the operative or inoperative positions,said means comprising a support; a pivot pin carried by said support; a,hinge arm carrying said mirror and threadedon said pivot pin sothatangularmovement of the hinge arm will cause horizontal moveiment thereofalong said pivot pin; and.

means for limiting said horizontal movement, said meanscomprising a hubon said hinge arm concentric with said pivot pin; and a cup carried. bysaid support. and adapted to receive said hub when; said mirror is inthe operative position. V p

12-. Means for leveling. an optometer comprising a rigid supportingframe; a pivot carried bysaid supporting frame and supporting saidoptometer;fa spring acting to turn said optometerin one direction aboutsaid pivot; and an adjusting screw. arranged to limit the movement .ofsaid spring and turn said optometer in the other-direction about saidpivot.

13. Supporting means for anoptometer to support said optometer; andmeans for maintaining said bracket at any desired ver-' tical positionon said column, said means comprising a shoe adapted to contact withsaid column; and a sprlng arranged to maintain said shoe in frictionalengagement with comprising a, collar surrounding sald column; acircumferential groove formed in said column. I

14. Supporting means for an optometer comprising a vertical column; abracket vertically slidable on said column; a supporting arm secured insaid bracket and adapted to support said optometer; means forlocat mgand maintaining said optometer in a fixed angular relation to saidcolumn, said.

means comprising a longitudinal groove formed in said column; a shoeadapted to ride 1n sald groove; a spring arranged to maintain said shoein said groove; and a lever adapted to raise said shoe from said groove,said shoe preventing horlzontal .rotation about said column when inengage 'ment with said groove.

15. Supporting means for an optometer comprising a vertical column; abracket vertically slidable on said column; a supporting arm secured insaid bracket and adapted to support said optometer; and means forsupporting said bracket at any desired vertical position on said column,said means comprising a collar surrounding said column; acircumferential groove formed in said collar; tongues on said vbracketadapted .to engage in said groove, said tongues arranged to allowrelative rotation between said collar and said bracket but preventseparation thereof; and means for supporting said collar at any desiredposition on said column.

16. Supporting means for an optometer collar.

comprising a vertical column; a bracket Ver said collar; tongues on saidbracket adapted to engage-in said groove, said tongues ar ranged toallow relative rotation between saidv collar and said bracket butprevent separation thereof; means for supporting said collar at anydesired position on said adapted to ride in a longitudinal groove incolumn; and a projection in said collar said column and prevent rotationof ,said

17. Means for supporting an 1 optometer comprising a carriagesupportinglsaid op-f tometer and arranged to one side of the line ofvision thereof; a frame; horizontal tracks y on said frame on which saidcarriage rides;

a vertical hinge for said frame; and a base for the support of saidhinge.

18. In a reflectoscope having a fixation object mirror; a shaft arrangedat the rear of and parallel to said mirror; sleevessurrounding saidshaft and maintaining frictional-engagement therewith; finders rotatablymounted on said sleeves and adapted to project over a portion of thefaceof said mirror, when in one position, and lie at the rear of saidmirror, when in anotherposition; a sighting portion earned by saidfinders and arranged to be visible when said finders are in the latterposition.

' In testimony whereof, I affix my signature. CHARLES E. H. ARMBRUSTER,

